Your Right to Know

Work continues to disperse the governmental duties and debts of Orient after residents voted
38-30 in the May 7 election to dissolve the 50-year-old village with 230 residents and a mile of
roads in northwestern Pickaway County.

There are roads, water and sewer systems, and streetlights to be taken care of as the village
prepares to shed its incorporated status and become solely a small chunk of Scioto Township.

“There are still a lot of things to be worked out,” said township Trustee Terry Bill. “The whole
situation is a large question mark. We’re just waiting.”

County and township officials are discussing which entity will be responsible for which roads,
not seen as a big burden by either side, but only the county can operate the sewer and water
systems.

The engineer’s office is familiar with running sewer systems, but operating a water system would
be a first for the county, said Brad Lutz, county administrator. But, he said, the engineer’s
office can handle the job.

The sewer system is debt-free, but nearly $200,000 in loans are owed on the water system. County
officials are awaiting financial information to determine whether water and sewage rates will stay
the same or go up, Lutz said.

The fate of the Orient’s streetlights, operated with a cut of the $4,500 in annual property
taxes collected by the village, remains unresolved. They could go dark unless the trustees place a
small tax levy on the ballot and it’s approved by ex-villagers.

Orient residents dumped their village government over claims it was too small to function
effectively and complaints that Mayor Melinda Skaggs and $30-a-month council members were
unresponsive to their concerns.

Skaggs could not be reached for comment, with her mother saying her daughter would not respond
to questions.

The state auditor’s office is assisting local officials and will conduct a final audit to close
the books on Orient as a village, said Mike Maurer, a spokesman for Auditor Dave Yost.

The process of shutting down the village could be completed late this year, but could linger
into early 2014, Maurer said.